Elastic-fluid turbine.



No. 826,927. PATBNTED JULY '24, 1906.

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PATENT oEEIoE.

JAMES WILLIAM FERGUSON, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

ELASTlC-FLUID TURBINE.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application filed May 9,1906. Serial No. 315.972.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WILLIAM FEE- GUsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Elastic-Fluid Turbine, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to elasticfluid turbines, and it relates more particularly to a turbine of that type in which the motive iiuid is discharged approximately tangentially upon certain of the buckets and then discharges axially in opposite directions upon successive rows of buckets to entirely abstract the energy of the motive iuid, the opposite axial flow of the fluid equalizing the endwise thrust common in single axial iiow turbines.

The objects of the invention are to improve, simplify, and cheapen the construction of turbines of this character.

In carrying out the invention I provide one or more rows of buckets adapted to receive the motive iiuid discharged approximately tangentially upon the same, the buckets being uncovered at one or both of their side ends, so that the fluid can discharge in an axial direction against one, two, or more successive rows of buckets. According to one embodiment of the invention the buckets that receive the motive fluid tangentially are radial in one direction and axial in another direction, and their front or fluid impinging surfaces are preferably flat. On one or both sides of these buckets are arranged in alternate order rows of stationary, intermediate, and rotary buckets through which the steam passes successively from the tangentially-receiving buckets. The faces of the intermediate and rotary buckets are also flat and extend radially in one direction. The intermediate buckets are arranged at an angle of forty-iive degrees, more or less, with respect to the axis of rotation or to the tangential-receiving buckets, while the rotary buckets that receive iiuid from the intermediates are disposed at an angle of thirty degrees, more or less, to the axis of rotation. By arranging the buckets in this manner greater expansion of the steam or other motive fluid is obtainable, giving the turbine more power and a higher velocity and economy in the use of steam. Furthermore., as the buckets are flat they can be cut in solid disks or segments by a simple milling operation, thereby cheapening and expediting the manufacture of the buckets. The nozzles or fluid-discharging devices for delivering the fluid tangentially may be of any desired construction.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises various features of construction and arrangement of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the turbine. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section. Fig. 3 is a partial side view of the rotating element of the turbine, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of one ofthe nozzlepassages.

Corresponding parts in the several Jfigures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the turbine-casing, which is composed of two sections 2 and 3, separably connected and divisible on a central transverse plane. These vannular sections may, if desired, be made of segments and suitably connected together for convenience in manufacture and assemblin At the ends of the casing 1 are the hea s 4, bolted or otherwise su'tably secured around their peripheries to the annular casing l, and which are provided with bearings 5 for shaft 6 of the turbine. Secured to the shaft 6 by means of a key 7 are a plurality of disks or bucket-wheels 8 and 9. The disk 8, arranged centrally of the turbine, is provided with radially and axially extending buckets 10, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. lThese buckets are uncovered at their peripheral ends and also at their side ends, so that motive iiuid can be discharged tangentially against them and then flow therefrom in opposite axial directions into the stationary intermediate buckets l1. These intermediate buckets are cut in annular members or segi ments, and after the ends of the buckets are covered by rings or covers l1', shrunk or otherwise secured thereon, they are suitably secured to the turbine-casing after the buckets have been cut. The intermediate buckets operate to give to the motive fluid the proper angle of delivery for discharging upon the succeeding rotary buckets l2 on the wheels 9. I iind in practice that the angle of delivery of the intermediates is very satisfactory at forty-fivedegrees to the buckets 10 IOO los

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or the axis of rotation. To get thebestresults from such anangle-oh delivery, they buckets 12 on the wheels 9are preferably arranged at thirty degrees to theaxisofrotation. The worl ung passages from the inlet to the point of expanding, as shown, or creasing the radial depth otherwise, as may be found best.

expanding by iny13; into. .whichA` the -iluid dischargestafteri the energyl thereofrhfas-,been abstracted 'f by the successive. rows: ot bucketsV and; discharges therefrom 4to .the atmosphere or the. condensing system throughz theizexhaustfports :l 4;-

Thebuckets;` of: the;- characterv showni are simple` and: inexpensive; to construct,v since theycanbacutzin solid stock; at ithedesiredanw gles by a suitablemillilngfinaehdne. Thesegs` ments Oryrings; 11 ofitlieiintermediaite buckets are constructed itcl .snug-1yrfiftsthesinterior wallofgthie/.casin andithey maybetsecuired in plaeein; any esiredfi Inannerfas: fons in` stance.; .thery adjacentgwalls -off` the.- casinggand segments are provided with@l registering grooves: that receivev segmental keysl5; as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to preventrelative axial i displacement between the f casiingrvand intermediate; buckets, ori they may be se.'-

vcured in place by means ofboltsqlr,` Fig; 1 g

that yextendY throughffradial openingssn 1 the casing y1 and i screw. inwardly from i the out# side of "the casinginto tapped Y'open-ingsinethe ringsV`V or segments of: the intermediates: Since. the casingfsnugly fitscaroundthe inter? mediate segments or rings, itholds the. latter in fixed ;concentric `position with?` respect to the rotating buckets.l The wl-ieels are `pref ventedl from ,endwiseinovernention the shaft byl Ineans'of'thelsetfboltsf-N, liliga.` 1; Thefrnotiveffluidf is discharged upon the central buckets 1.0b1y one ormorenozzles 18: When i a plurality of. nozzles; are.` i employed, they are, preferably, angullarly displaced around the bucket-Wheel: at. suitable'.A dis- These. :nozzles: may be. constructed onany approved principle, expandii'ig,l noniexpanding, or-.conitracting .in tha direction of discharge. The-nozzles `recel-va motive fluid fromithe: annularkchest 19t, extending centrally around theecasing, and ;the. -supplyrof motive ,fluid from ,the chestfto Vthe nozzlesgis nozzles/'elvesy 201, operated vfrom a .point without .the casinggby the 1 handpwheel F 21 1 or.k anyA otheru sui-table means The steamfi-nlet isindicatedfat-ZZ. The nozzlesare arranged Itogliefin the/plane of i division between ,th'ei sections 2 .and- 3 -of the.` casing, and the passages canlbe arranged whollyin one,` section, thereby forming three walls l:of the Ilozzlef while. thev other. section forms rthe :fourth wall; orftheyrmaybe made in lone section- .and half zin ,the other sec,-

register,` when 1 the. sections tarea secured; to,

final exhaust may be nony off'the-buckets or At they ends of; the casing are) exhaustfchambers gether. By this arrangement the work of cutting., i' g, and scrapingfthe walls of the passages can be easily done from the open Isidesthereofinstead of from the ends of the passages, as has been the case heretofore. This is an advantageous feature of the present construction, since the nozzles can be thereby. expeditiously and inexpensively constructed. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, one half of the nozzleepassageiis' shownfatZBain section 2 and ther` otherhalff at 124 #ins sectien 3 ofthe casing.

If desired, the.I nozzlesscangbel-arrangedein supports, such: as;` atring orisegmentspwhiclr areL independenti ofi' thief.y turbinercasinggand suitably supported thereim. Asshowniin Fig; 1 the Asteam-chestL 19:;issals0u arranged partly in @each ofitli'eftwo .sectionsfofrtheecasf ing, andthe two sections fiareiseciiredtogetlrer by bolts oitotherfdevicesez';I

While@ If' haveadescribed; the. inventioni as appliedf to` @Wh-atmay: liefyterlnedf; as. singlestagef turbine; Ir desiref to ,haves iti under-'f stoodpthat;the;iiiiventioncanthecarriednfwJ effecti in; connection i with*x as muiltistageeture bine. 'Furthermore,insteadofarrangingfthe nozzles at the center of the turbine andxcans: ing thle fluid 1 tol .lldwftowardl thegexhanstf at the ends` thereof: this f arrangementi may; be reversed and f still; eliminate the-end thrust and producen satisfactory; andyy ecienti resultsotherwise.:

I .have described fthe princi leof 'operation ofthe inyenton,` togetherfgwiftlif theappanatus whiclrl new consider ,to bethefbestiembodif: Inentzthereof; butlfdesirento hayeifittunder'f stood 1 that', the apparatus Y.- shown i isfl merely illustrativeand A thatvariouschangestinitlre. construction and i arrangement. of partes and 1proportionscan be,resorted'tcmvithcntzsalfiL cingganys of-Ithe principleseomadvantagesof the;invention..l

What fiszclairnedisf- 1 i In an; elastic-fluidturbine; the, combina@ tion of radiallyfand axiallyzextendingbiiekets open at i theiit` circumferential.. and: sidefends and-'arranged .tto receive. fluid'etangentiallyeat theircircurnferential end and` to. .discharge the lluidiequally from thasideendsfin an axial direction, with ibucketsz.. arrall ed itc.- ireceieve. theilfuid from the sideiendso-f at tof further :abstract fenergy ,from tliedlfuide 2:' In an elastic-fluid turbine, thecombiinae tionl ot buckets` which receive@ the moti-ve fluid deli'vered `in aftangential direction, vxand v are. open at.E their, circumferential f andi side ends ,5 with successive :rotvsaofs bnckets:-,con-. structed -toi form? ,passagesof iuniforrn cross,i section and arranged itc.- :receiver the. motive fluid axially fro-rn the first-mentioned buck@ ets y the cross-sectclr of thabuckfetsof zaltein nate.I rows beingA Vdifferent @from .ther crossfsecition of thefinterrnediategrows.

3.; In an elasticrlluid turbine, the combina: tion .of zradialfand iaxallyfextendinggbuckets IOO eifirstabucket ets adapted to receive liuid discharged tan-v gentially, rows of intermediate buckets forming passages of uniform cross-section disposed at an angle to the passages between the first buckets, and rotary buckets arranged in cooperative relation to the intermediate buckets which form passages of different uniform cross-section and disposed at an angle to the first buckets different from the angle of the intermediate buckets.

5. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of radially and axially extending buckets rotatably mounted and adapted to receive fluid tangentially and deliver it axially, rows ofintermediatebuckets formingpassages of uniform cross-section and disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation, and rows of rotating buckets forming passages of greater crosssection than the aforesaid passages and disposed at a less angle to the axis of rotation.

6. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of a rotatable element, radially and axially extending buckets arranged thereon which are uncovered at their circumferential and side ends to deliver fluid axially therefrom, tangentially-discharging nozzles angularly displaced around the element, and alternately-arranged stationary and rotary buckets forming axially-extending passages, the passages between the stationary bucket being of less cross-section than those of the rotary buckets and disposed at a greater angle to the axis of rotation than the passages of the rotary buckets.

7. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of a casing having annular grooves on its internal surface, rows of rotating buckets mounted therein, rows of intermediate buckets, externally grooved arc-shaped members supporting the intermediate buckets and engaging the interior wall of the casing, and a. key fitted in the grooves of said members and the casing for preventing relative axial displacement between the intermediate buckets and the casing.

8. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of a casing, rows of rotating buckets mounted therein, rows of intermediate buckets, annular members for supporting the intermediate buckets which are held circumferentially in engagement with the interior wall of the casing, registering keyways in the said members and casing, and keys in said ways for preventing relative axial displacement of the members and casing.

9. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of buckets having fiat fluid-impinging faces and arranged to receive the motive Afluids delivered in a tangential direction, the passages between the buckets being of substantially uniform cross-section and open at their circumferential and side ends; with buckets having flat fluid-impinging faces and arranged to receive the fluid delivered from the side ends of the first buckets.

v In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES WILLIAM FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. FERGUSON. WrNToN W. FERGUSON 

